US firefighters struggle against brushland fire

FIREFIGHTERS struggled yesterday to prevent a fire that has charred nearly 39 square miles of brushland from crossing Interstate 5, which would force authorities to again shut down traffic on one of California’s busiest freeways.

The fire, known as the Day Fire as it was sparked on Labour Day by someone burning debris in a remote area, has burned 24,943 acres and was 25% contained, said Ed Linquist, a spokesman for the US Forest Service. It was burning in the Los Padres National Forest and the adjoining Angeles National Forest.

Winds were pushing the fire, which was growing slowly to the east and the southwest. Spots of flames jumped over a fireline cut by a bulldozer next to the highway, and erratic winds were spreading the fire, said Kathy Good of the US Forest Service.